but what do you say to that, stephen? >> reporter: but the testimony went on for several uncomfortable minutes. though not every member gave him undivided attention. >> this is america. i don't want a tomato picked by a mexican. i want it picked by an american, then sliced by a guatemalan and served by a venezuelan in a spa where a chilean gives me a brazilian. >> reporter: asked about it later, nancy pelosi saw no problem with the stunt. >> he has a point of view, he can bring attention to important issues like immigration. >> reporter: republicans said colbert mocked the process. >> if you don't know they were illegal, they might have been legal workers there, is that correct? >> i don't know. i have no idea. >> reporter: privately, some democrats worried the whole spectacle would fan the flames of voter disgust with washington at a time when the electorate is already on edge. >> whatever the spanish word for mono is. >> reporter: on thursday night, what should have been a stayed candidate debate turned into fight night